LONDON (AFP) - Chelsea failed to make any ground on Premiership leaders Arsenal after they were held 0-0 by Spurs at Stamford Bridge here.
While Spurs are still without a win against Chelsea in 29 games, dating back to February 1990, their manager Jacques Santini will be the happier man as his side stayed unbeaten while Chelsea handler Jose Mourinho will rue the missed chances and fine goalkeeping by Spurs' Paul Robinson.
Robbie Keane had Spurs first effort on target in the 55th minute but unmarked he saw his header brilliantly beaten away for a corner by Petr Cech.
Didier Drogba made a powerful run down the left wing on the hour mark bursting into the box but his cross was unable to be met by Eidur Gudjohnsen and in fact his rush at the ball put the better placed Joe Cole off.
Spurs forced Cech into another smart save in the 65th minute when captain Jamie Redknapp's vicious swirling shot was tipped round the post as it zeroed in on the bottom right hand corner.
Mourinho reacted by sending on an extra striker in Mateja Kezman and Irish winger Damien Duff in place of Cole and Tiago.
However Robinson was proving equal to anything that was thrown at him and with 11 minutes remaining he had to be sharp to react to Frank Lampard's freekick - the Chelsea player making a record 114th successive Premiership appearance - that came through a mass of bodies and the former Leeds man managed somehow to divert it past the post for a corner.
Robinson was beaten for once in the 85th minute but Eidur Gudjohnsen's shot cannoned off the post to safety.
Ledley King then managed to force the ball for a corner as Drogba muscled his way into the penalty area but the Frenchman's appeals that the England defender had handled the ball was waved away by referee Mike Riley.
Gudjohnsen had an early chance in the first-half which was beaten away for a corner by Robinson.
Drogba had the best opportunity in the fifth minute when he was free on goal but Robinson blocked his effort and Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder Tiago was unable to keep his shot down blasting it over the bar with Robinson desperately trying to regain his ground.
Drogba decided to go on his own in the 16th minute when Gudjohnsen was free to his left and his curled effort sailed harmlessly over the bar.
However the Icelander was at fault in the 24th minute when presented with a free header he only managed to direct it wide of Robinson's post.
Robinson had to be at his best in the 33rd minute as Drogba slipped free inside the box latching onto Lampard's pass and the Frenchman managed to regain his balance after being tackled but his shot was bundled away by the England goalkeeper.
The last piece of action of the half saw a quizzical Mourinho asking Riley where the minute of added time had gone for as soon as the board was held up he blew his whistle - Spurs though would have been just relieved to have got to that point without trailing by two or more goals.